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Keeping Staff Motivated

Written by: Joynicole Martinez

Article Overview: Keeping employees motivated in the 21st century, especially during difficult times or times of organizational change is not impossible. There are methods an effective manager and leader can employ to ensure they are offering an encouraging environment that communicates stability and value during challenging times.

Keeping Staff Motivated

How do you keep employees competitive and motivated, especially during a difficult and changing environment?

When employees lack direction and lack opportunities for personal growth they simply will not give their best and they will probably seek employment elsewhere. A good manager or leader learns what motivates their employees and are competitive when hiring and supporting them. The last thing a small business needs to deal with is attrition. High turnover is often a vicious cycle and it costs significant time and money to recruit, interview and train replacements.

When a manager or leader values the team that they work with, offers intellectual stimulation and considers the needs of others, they are likely to communicate optimism and influence others to act. Actions of employees are not simply task related, but attitudes and behaviors influenced by the climate or culture. Organizational culture is made up of ethics, values and beliefs. Ethics, values and beliefs hold an organization together and, since these factors are developed within individuals, they must be accounted for in all successful change efforts. Effective leaders communicate these organizational systems effectively, and demonstrate them in day-to-day operation.

Some methodologies you can use to motivate employees, keep them sharp, communicate value to them and encourage them during change:

• · Provide cross-training and other opportunities to learn additional organizational roles and jobs
• · Provide an outlet for the safe expression of concerns, feedback and ideas
• · Ensure your incentive plan is based on the needs and desires of the current staff
• · Encourage and provide opportunities for additional training and continuing education as a part of career development
• · Involve staff in the decision-making process at some level
• · Allow for a flexible and dynamic work environment
• · Plan for and maintain a diverse staff

These methods apply whether you have 2 employees, 20 or 200. Transformational leadership, according to James MacGregor Burns (who first introduced the concept in 1978), “occurs when one or more persons engage with others in such a way that leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality.”

Lead well.

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Article Tags: 21st century, challenging times, difficult times, employee motivation, manager and leader, organizational change



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